Imagine waking up to a world where 43 young men have vanished, seemingly into thin air, leaving only unanswered questions and unbearable anguish for their loved ones.

This is not a story from some distant past or a legend this time, but a haunting reality that has gripped Mexico for a decade. This is the story of the disappearance of the 43 students from Ayotzinapa.

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Friends, thanks for joining me on *Mysteries of Latin America*, where I explore myths, legends, mysteries, and history from the northern border of Mexico to the southern tip of Argentina and across the Caribbean Islands. My name’s Andrew, and today, we delve into the unresolved enigma of the Ayotzinapa disappearance—a case that has become a symbol of Mexico's ongoing struggle with truth, corruption, violence, and justice.

September 26, 2014, began like many other days in the small town of Ayotzinapa, located about four hours from the tourist city of Acapulco, in Guerrero on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. Students from the Escuela Normal Rural Raúl Isidro Burgos, also known as the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College, were preparing for a trip to Mexico City. They intended to commemorate the Tlatelolco massacre of 1968, where the Mexican government brutally suppressed student protests, resulting in hundreds of deaths just days before the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City. The students had no inkling that this trip would culminate in a tragic and ironic echo of that historical violence in the 21st century.

In this episode, I’ll present the official story from the government, explore alternative theories involving corruption, drug trafficking, political motives, a massive cover-up, and discuss how the election of a leftist president has influenced the ongoing investigation. I’ll also provide updates on the current status and prevailing theory of what really happened.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, I invite you to do so on your preferred platform to get episodes as soon as they’re released and access nearly 60 other episodes I’ve prepared for you. If you have comments or an idea for an episode, reach out to me at andy@andycancun.com—I’d be honored to read you and consider your suggestion.

Now, let’s get to the 43…